Combined hay and stock rack.



N0.v4s,112. PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

B. TANNER. COMBINED HAY AND S TOGK RAOK.-

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1903.

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2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903'.

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APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 27. 1903;

COMBINED HAY AND STOCK RACK.

N0 MODEL.

braces 6, which lie above the same. The ends Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT k OFFICE.

BENJAMIN TANNER, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED HAY AND STOCK RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,112, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed March 27, 1903..

T (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN TANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Combined I-Iayand Stock Rack, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to combined hay and stock racks, and has for its objects to produce a device of this character which may be readily adjusted longitudinally to lengthen or shorten the same, as circumstances may require, and which may also be adjusted for application to the running-gear of vehicles varying in width and one which while possessing these advantages will be comparatively simple of construction and inexpensive to manufacture, the invention comprising the details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device having its side members in position. Fig. 2 is abottom plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the body portion of my improved device, which is adapted to be attached in the manner hereinafter described to the running-gear of a wagon or other suitable vehicle. This body portion comprises a front relatively fixed, section 2 and arear movable section 2, slidingly connected with the front section. The front section comprises two longitudinally disposed spaced bars 3, connected by transverse end braces or straps 4: and 5, which lie beneath the same, and by transverse bars or of the transverse bars 6 project laterally beyond the longitudinal bars 3 a considerable distance and are connected by longitudinal straps 7 and 8, disposed in pairs at either side of the frame. The ends of the brace-strap also project laterally beyond the longitudinal bars 3 a suitable distance and receive the lower end of a vertical bolt or the like 9, which depends from the upper rear bar 6. There are two of the bolts 9, one at each side of the frame and spaced a suitable distance from the respective longitudinal sidebars 3 to form a guide or strengthening means for the two Serial No. 149,897. on, model.)

main longitudinal bars or guides 10, which extend throughout the length of the body portion of the rack and form guides for the rear movable section thereof, which latteris identical in construction with the front fixed section, except that in the instance of the rear movable section the front lower strap or brace at extends laterally beyond the side bars 3 of the section in order to sustain the vertical bolts 9. The rear section, which is adapted to slide freely back and forth relative to the front section and in adirection longitudinally thereof, is guided in its movement by the main longitudinal bars 10, which are connected at their front ends to the bars 3 of the front section by means of suitable bolts or the like 11. The rear section is slidingly connected with the front section by means of longitudinal straps or. links 12, which for1n,in eifect, continuations of the outer longitudinal brace-straps 7, being connected, as they are, to the said brace-straps of the rear section by means of bolts 13 and to the said brace-straps of the front section by means of metal sheaths 14, bolted to the front ends of the links and bent around the edges of the straps 7, thus forminga sliding connection, which permits the free longitudinal adjustment of the rear section in the manner above described.

15 indicates a bar which extends transversely of the front section, near the forward end thereof. This bar is provided at either end with a block 16, adapted for attachment to the front bolster of the wagon in any suitable manner, the blocksbeing slidingly connected with the bar 15 by means of a suitable slot-and-bolt connection, which permits the adjustment of the blocks to conform to the running-gear of vehicles which vary in width.

17 is a transverse bar carried by the rear movable section and provided with blocks 18, connected to the bar and adapted for attachment to the vehicle-bolster and for adjustment in a manner and for the purpose as described in connection with the bar 15 and blocks 16 of the front section.

19 indicates a double tongue pivoted at the frontend of the forward section, adapted to swing upwardly to a vertical position or downward to a horizontal position between the bars 3 of the section. 20 is a similar tongue pivoted to the rear end of the movable section and adapted to swing on its pivot to a vertical position or downward to form a skid or platform up which animals may be driven when it is desired to use the device as a stockrack. When the device is so employed, it will be provided with side members 21, comp0sed of a plurality of sections slidably connected by means of suitable metal sheaths 22, bolted to the ends of the rail-plates 23 of one section and loosely embracing the rail-plates 24 of the other section. The side members will be sustained in position by means of vertical standards 25, connected at their lower ends by means of bolts or'the like to the bars 15 and 17 ofthe respective sections 2 and 2 and by an intermediate vertical brace 26, which connects the free ends of the rail-plates 24. When the side members are in position, it will be observed that the longitudinal brace bars or straps 7 and 8 form a footboard, which may be used by persons in inspecting the stock in the rack. Also when the device is employed as a stock-rack its front and rear ends will be closed by means of suitable frames 27 and 2S, removably attached in any suitable manner to the respective tongues 19 and 20.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I produce a device simple of construction, inexpensive to manufacture, which may be readily converted into either a stock or hay rack and is adjustable longitudinally for attachment to running-gears varying in length or for the purpose of accommodating a greater or lesser number of animals and that the same is also adjustable for attachment to running-gears varying in width. In attaining these ends I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details herein shown and described, inasmuch as minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

movable body-section,vertical standards carried thereby, side members each comprising two sections, one sustained by the standards of the fixed bodysection and the other by the standards of the movable body-section, means for slidably connecting the sections of the side members, and means for slidably connecting the sections of the body portion.

3. In a hay and stock rack, the combination with a body portion comprising longitudinal bars and transverse brace-bars, of blocks or members slidably connected with one of said transverse bars and adapted for attachment to a vehicle-bolster; whereby the blocks may be adjusted to adapt the device for vehicles varying in width.

4. In a stock-rack, the combination witha body portion, of side members therefor and brace members for the body portion lying outside of the side members constituting a footboard for use in inspecting stock in the rack.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN TANNER.

Witnesses:

E. A. GRIFFITH, WM. J. HUNT. 

